Timeline: 1975-1999

Please note: This timeline is a work in progress and we continue to update as we record more information from published references and our archives. It includes dates of events, activities and operations for the Queen’s Own Rifles.

June 12 – Rifleman R. N. Gurung is killed in a military vehicle accident in Toronto, Ontario.

1976

Captain George Gresham replaces Captain John O’Brien as Director of Music

1979

April 1 – The Central Militia Area Special Unit (CMASU) is amalgamated into the QOR. This experimental Unit led by Lt Col Fairclough, was intended as a Reserve parachute capable force but funding was discontinued. Many member of the CMASU went on to hold important positions in the QOR including: LCol Tony Welsh, RSM Scott Patterson and RSM Shaun Kelly.

1981

January 16 – A funeral with full military honours was held at St Paul’s Anglican Church for Lieutenant Colonel William S. Wilson, CD, Commanding Officer of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, who died of a heart attack aged 54, on his way home from military duties.

October – The QOR won the Kitching Trophy for the Top Unit in Central Militia Area (all of Ontario).

1982

10 Rifleman attended an Airborne course which produced 10 graduates, one of which placed first. The regiment subsequently was to see ourselves tasked to provide an Airborne Platoon.

March – Sergeants’ Mess proudly celebrate their 100th year.

April 24 – 122nd Anniversary Dinner-Dance hosted by The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association at Casa Loma with guest of honour Major General Herbert Pitts, MC, CD. The concert band of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344 appeared with the kind permission of its president, Mr. Gus Gutoski.

May 15 – First Annual Black Net Dinner was held at the Officers’ Mess.

March 25 – The one hundred annual Mess Dinner of the Sergeants’ Mess is held at Casa Loma followed by a Ball.

Brigadier General Don Pryer takes over command of Central Militia District from Brigadier General Leonard Salmon.

1984

February 25 – The Sergeants’ Mess held its Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, VC/Corporals’ Night

February – 11 Rifleman attended SSF Ex Lightning Strike with the Airborne Regiment jumping into an area near Earlton in Northern Ontario. Several Rifleman came back with White Maple Leaves. This is awarded to a militia trooper on successful completion of two operational jumps with the AB Regiment.

March 31 – Sergeants’ Mess held its 101st Annual Mess Dinner

June 14 – Captain Simundson departs for advance party to England.

Captain E Simundson in England

June 22 – Main body of Skirmishers and Pioneers reach England for a performance at Green Jacket Week.

QOR Skirmisher Officer and Bugler

September – The Parachute tasking was upgraded to providing two platoons and a company headquarters.

September 29 – The Regiment participated in the Royal Salute to Her Majesty the Queen presented by the Government of Ontario and Central Militia Area in celebration of the Bicentennial of the Province of Ontario at Exhibit Stadium.

April 20 – A regimental dinner followed by a dance is held at the Royal Canadian Legion to celebrate the 125th Anniversary.

April 24 – A Ceremonial Parade is held at Moss Park Armoury to celebrate the 125th Anniversary – Brigadier General J. Neal Gordon, DSO, CD is the reviewing officer. The Regiment also fired a few-de-joie the first time in a number of years this was done.

May 20 – Victoria Day the Toronto Historical Board asked for the participation of the Pioneers & Skirmishers to fire a feu-de-joie for the Queen’s Birthday at Old Fort York, with Military band in attendance.

July – CWO Roy Bruce retires after 36 years of Service with the Canadian Army and the Canadian Forces.

November 6 – Colonel in Chief Princess Alexandra arrives at the Toronto Airport. 6-10 November the Colonel in Chief visited the Regiment.

Princess Alexandra is greeted at the Toronto Airport 9 November 1985Princess Alexandria inspects members of the 3rd Battalion QOR

May – Five members of the QOR Airborne Company travelled to Dover, New Jersey, to be guests of the New Jersey Airborne Colour Guard. 2nd Lieutenant John Fotheringham, Sergeant Scott Patterson, Master Corporal Adam Saunders, Master Corporal B. Paton and Corporal R. Vulakovich parade with the Colour Guard as part of Armed Forces Day at Picatinny Arsenal.

April 24 – Drumhead Ceremony at Moss Park Armoury to mark the Regiment’s 128th Anniversary. Special guests include the Honorable Lincoln Alexander, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; British Lieutenant General Sir David Ramsbotham; and Canadian Legion Vice President Gaston Garceau.

December 2 – The Buglers Association hold a buffet and fun night at the Buglers Mess.

1989

January 22 – Gala Concert by the Regimental Band and Bugles under Lieutenant Denny Ringler, Director of Music.

UNTAG Namibia (United Nations Transition assistance group in Namibia.) Master Corporal Frank Demaine, March 1989 to September 1989. Rifleman Steve Wolfe September 1989 to March 1990. War ceased between Angola , and Cuba vs . South West Africa (now Namibia) backed by the South African Defence force. They successfully withdrew fighting forces and held first democratic elections in 1990 and Namibia became an independent nation. Canada provided mainly logistical support. I was in transport , helped build defensive base camp , was on QRF during elections.

June 6 – 45th Anniversary of D-Day is celebrated with a dinner at the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

1990

January – Issue of new 5.56 mm C7 rifles, 5.56 mm C9 LMG and 7.62 mm C6 Machine guns as part of the Small Arms Replacement Project.

April – Wings exchange between members of the 194th Long Range Surveillance Detachment (Airborne) from the Iowa Army National Guard flew to Ontario in a C130, fulfilling a commitment three years in the planning. When it was over, 30 members of the QOR had earned the coveted US Parachute Wings.

September – Sergeant Donovan O’Halloran led four members of the Battalion in becoming the first Reserve team to ever enter the infamous SSF Ironman Competition.

Sgt Donovan O’Halloran becomes first Reservist to complete and qualify as a Parachute Instructor

Six QOR Reservists deploy on Op Deliverance in Somalia.

1994

June – QOR contingent around 200 traveled to Normandy to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Travelling to many towns the QOR liberated during this campaign.

September – Captain John Fotheringham, Master Warrant Officer Andy Sarossy, Warrant J. O’Connor and Warrant John Wilmot Parachuted into Holland for the 50th anniversary of Operation Market Garden near Arnhem. After landing with 10 Para they followed the 2 Para route to Frost Bridge 23 km away doing this for the first time since the war. Returning to England, the QOR contingent did a balloon jump from 700 and all earned their British wings.

1995

Sergeant Donovan O’Halloran, Corproal Gin and Corporal Smardenkas return safely from their 6 month tour with the UN in former Republic of Yugolavia (O’Halloran with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Cpl Gin and Smardenkas with 1 Royal Canadian Regiment.)

March 5 – Contingent from QOR attend the disbanding of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. QOR Band and Bugles was asked and accepted to play the various marches required for the numerous parades and functions held during the disbandment. The Band led the Canadian Airborne Regiment on its last march with Lieutenant Colonel Kenward leading the Regiment, to the final Laying up of Colours at the Airborne Museum at CFB Petawawa.

July – The QORofC Band and Bugles perform at Fort Henry, Kingston Ontario.

August – Exchange with The Bugles of the Light Division and The Queen’s Own Band and Bugles.

Members of the QOR participated in the Marine Corps international parachuting competition in Rhode Island, USA. The team consisting of QOR members Master Corproal Chris Nobrega, Geoff Myers, Corproal Bret Lockhart, Sergeant Frank Demaine and two others from 32 Brigade, MWO Jim Fancy (Hatsy Ps) and a Major from Intelligence, won Top foreign team out of about 600 jumpers.

Cpl. L. Harrison holding a Soviet APSH-41 1945 fully functional with 71 round drum magazine just a couple of the many weapons they came across in Bosnia.Another common feature in the landscapre are discarded or destroyed vehicles. Here, a Soviet T-34 WWII vintage, still in its run-up position left undamaged for whatever reason.Cpl Harrison as a gunner of 33C in a town called Martin Brod. A four day long range patrol was conducted there as well as several day patrols.

January 9-21 – Following a massive snowstorm, 77 Queen’s Own volunteers participated in assisting civil authorities in Toronto (Op Recuperation) at some point during this period on Class “C” Reserve Service (filling Regular Force positions).

April 18 – About 100 members, wives and friends attended the Calgary Branch of the QOR Association’s dinner at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 264 to celebrate the Regiment’s 138th birthday.

June 6 – The Annual Association Rifle Shoot is held at Niagara-on-the-Lake Range organized by Rob Grieve

June 22 – The Calgary Branch of the QOR Association was visited by Brigadier General D. A. Pryer, Honorary Colonel, and Lieutenant Colonel John G.B. Strathy and his wife Jane. They dined at the Ranchmans’ Club thanks to Colonel Paul and Bev Hughes.

June 10 – A large silver bowl which had been presented to the QOR by The Buffs on the occasion of the Regiment’s 100th Anniversary, is returned to the Officers’ Mess from the Fort Frontenac’s Officers’ Mess thanks to the efforts of Brigadier General Kip Kirby

July 1 to 21 – Exercise Rambling Rifleman ’98 exchange of England with the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (1RGR). Rifleman Sparks, Rifleman Hayes and Bugler Joseph Amodeo staying with 1 RGR for the duration of the exercise and Captain Adam Harmes, Corporals Chin-Leung, Pindar and Udobi, as well as Riflemen Hing, Pytlik and Sandilands, spent the ex with C (Gurkha) Coy of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment at Aldershot.